Miracle at Birnie
How a synthesis of local Catholics, the Ordinariate and Presbyterians are saving one of the oldest places of worship in Scotland.
For the last couple of years an ecumenical group, made up of local Catholics, Church of Scotland congregants and the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in Scotland have been meeting every Wednesday for Evensong at Birnie Kirk just outside of Elgin. Formally used as a Church of Scotland parish but closed as part of the wider Church of Scotland’s drive to reduce costs; new life has been breathed into it
In 2022 the COFS closed the church citing a dwindling congregation and skyrocketing fabric bills. It is a rural parish lying just south of Elgin, Morayshire’s main town, and like many rural churches it faced a dwindling congregation. But Birnie is not your run of the mill Kirk. Birnie is the site of the longest continuous worship in Scotland, having been founded by the followers of St Brendan in the 6th Century and became Moray’s first Cathedral. Its span of history is reflected in the architecture, the present building originating in the 12th century, with the reformation ravaging its changes with the once grand high altar removed. It also famously housed the 1773 Hairy Bible and a 1000-year-old Coranach bell that was possible blessed by the Pope of the day.
No intrusive digs have been done yet but archaeologists found the remains of 12 round houses in the field next door on the site of what was Birnie’s village.
I attended one Wednesday evening, arriving in the dark and walking its rather evocative pathway up to the church building through its graveyard. The bell was ringing as the wind whipped last season’s leaves and branches around. Numbers rise and fall between 20 and 40 attendees a week – some, like Ann Stewart, have been coming to Birnie -and indeed been an Elder for decades. It was partly her energy along with convener Hazel, and Derek Kelly of the Catholic Men’s Group that brought about this rather surprising ecumenical synthesis.
As Derek said, he could not believe this church was being shut and felt that if he could get a group, like the Ordinariate or other Religious interested, it might save the building. The first Mass since the reformation was held on 5th November 2022 with its chief celebrant being Bishop Hugh Gilbert of the Diocese of Aberdeen, but alongside representatives of the Church of Scotland, Episcopal Church and the local Ordinariate as well as other local Priests to a packed out Birnie. Mass is now held once a month along with the regular Wednesday Evening Prayer.
Byran Miller, one of the main organisers and Hazel talked to me about how the St Margaret Declaration (signed in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne with Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields – Moderator of the Church of Scotland and Archbishop Cushley in 2022) spurred on their own ecumenical effort and signing their very own declaration. They spoke about how Evening Prayer as a means of worship as well as a coming together was a perfect driver for what they are doing – using the Ordinariate Rite and adding the Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis alongside hymns and copious Scriptures it has surprised many of the original congregation and allowed barriers between Catholic and Protestant to come down. The Ordinariate was an initiative of Pope Benedict XVI to allow Anglican clergy to enter the Catholic Church bringing with them the Anglican liturgical tradition.
Another key aspect is community, not an add on but an integral component with tea/coffee afterwards, no one siting in sectarian groups but mingling as believers with a common baptismal calling. They are forthright though in the differences of both traditions, however they neither downplay them nor allow them to snuff out what is happening.
And what is happening here really is very special and an encouragement in a number of ways. It is clear that as much as they have had Clerical input and support at times, the main drivers and founders are all lay men and women. Evening Prayer does not need any Priestly involvement meaning that those who attend not only receive of the churches deep liturgical beauty without requiring the time of an already overburdened Priesthood. There are in fact a lot of things we as laypeople can do, and must do, if we want to see our own Parishes and places like Birnie thrive. What does it take to do this? When Derek started, he had no idea what would come of his first meeting with Ann Stewart, and so it shows how God uses just that attitude of get up and go.
This is also a potential way forward for the COFS. Instead of instantly trying to sell a building, can they look to a succession plan of sorts, encouraging other Christian groups to engage? For very historic buildings – like Birnie – what other charity and government help is out there? Such works take a great deal of effort and planning and it is therefore incumbent upon local interest groups to engage. In the Church of Scotland’s push for a renewed sense of mission they appear to miss the significance of buildings in mission. Just read Lucy Frasers conversion story (also happens to be a local) – and her article on why Pagans convert to Catholicism. The sacred spaces of our churches (especially Catholic) are proclamatory in themselves not to mention their actual sacredness due to consecration.
The future of Birnie is still uncertain. The building is up for sale, although there will be great difficulty in selling it, but if it does, so will end nearly 1500 years of worship. There is hope amongst the group that they can find the right donors or Religious group who can take the building on and bring new life and a new work here. An historic sympathy alone, even family ties will not save it – only a beating and vibrant community worshipping and serving God in rural Morayshire will save it in the end.
As the church closed up for the evening and I was left looking at it in the nearby electric light I said a quick prayer to St Gilbert de Moravia, the Bishop of Dornoch who managed to raise the money for the building of Dornoch Cathedral in the 13thC, even miraculously making stone masons tools get to work by themselves. Birnie is a
By Eric Hanna
This Week in the Coracle
A Lenten Journey of Hope: Jack Heitman asks how are we doing this Lent?
The Annunciation: How I learned to embrace Mary.
As March draws to an end, we can look forward to celebrating and praying with the above mentioned St Gilbert of Dornoch, St Magnus of Orkney and St Maelrubha who was based out west at Applecross.
Other Writing that Might Interest You
Lucy Fraser: The New Age Family Tree: a look at it's roots, branches and fruit.